The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040617.cfm)
reminds me that God keeps his word forever.
In the first reading, God made
a covenant to Abram. God told Abram that he shall now be called Abraham, and
that he will be the father of nations. Probably this was not too easy for
Abraham to believe. Why? Because when this happened, he was ninety-nine years
old! To be told that he will be the father of nations was probably something he
would not take seriously.
Good
thing God really keeps his word!
We see in the gospel that
indeed, God kept his word. The Jews have high regard for their father Abraham.
Though they cannot see and understand who Jesus is because they are blinded by
their hardened hearts, we still see that God kept his covenant to Abraham –
that he became the father of nations. That he became great.
God keeps our covenant to us.
He will keep his word – that he will take care of us, that he has great plans
for us, that he will protect us, that he will love us. No matter what we are
facing right now, God’s covenant still holds true.
However,
we need to keep our part of the covenant as well. Does this mean that God will
only keep his part if we keep ours? Probably not… but if we wont keep our part,
it’s like us saying we don’t want God to keep his part. IF we wont submit to
his will, it will be hard for him to make his great plans for us come true. If we run away
from him, it will be hard for him to protect us. IF we do not take
care of ourself and others, it will be hard for God to take care of us. If we continue
to sin and harden our hearts towards him, it will be hard for him to make his
love alive in our lives, because we don’t allow God to love us.
The psalmist is right – the
Lord remembers his covenant forever… he is faithful, so should we.
May
we always remember that God keeps his covenant, and be encouraged to hold our
end as well.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for reminding me that you
will always be faithful to your covenant. I am sorry for the many times I broke
my word to other people. I am sorry for the many times I broke my promises to
you, Lord. Sorry for the times I lose faith in you, or when I lose hope because
of the situation. Help me have faith in your power and goodness. I also ask
that you help me to be faithful to my word. Help me keep my promises – to other
people and most especially, to you. Help me submit myself to your wlll. Help me
be focused on you and on serving and loving you, and not to be distracted with
the lies the world tells me. Amen.
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
April 6, 2017
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 254
Reading 1 Gn 17:3-9
"My covenant with you is this:
you are to become the father of a host of nations.
No longer shall you be called Abram;
your name shall be Abraham,
for I am making you the father of a host of nations.
I will render you exceedingly fertile;
I will make nations of you;
kings shall stem from you.
I will maintain my covenant with you
and your descendants after you
throughout the ages as an everlasting pact,
to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
I will give to you
and to your descendants after you
the land in which you are now staying,
the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession;
and I will be their God."
God also said to Abraham:
"On your part, you and your descendants after you
must keep my covenant throughout the ages."
Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations –
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Verse Before the Gospel Ps 95:8
harden not your hearts.
Gospel Jn 8:51-59
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever keeps my word will never see death."
So the Jews said to him,
"Now we are sure that you are possessed.
Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say,
'Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.'
Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died?
Or the prophets, who died?
Who do you make yourself out to be?"
Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing;
but it is my Father who glorifies me,
of whom you say, 'He is our God.'
You do not know him, but I know him.
And if I should say that I do not know him,
I would be like you a liar.
But I do know him and I keep his word.
Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day;
he saw it and was glad."
So the Jews said to him,
"You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?"
Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
before Abraham came to be, I AM."
So they picked up stones to throw at him;
but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.
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